Playgrounds serve to be a microcosm of the world where our kids learn important lessons. They are filled with students who are human. Perfection may not be possible but the aspiration to create a peaceful playground is paramount. We want our future generation to accept that everyone is invited to the party and we all need to learn to co-exist peacefully to create a better reality. A playground is a relatively small fishbowl and a good place to learn about kindness, acceptance, tolerance and to develop problem-solving skills.
Peaceful playground requires:
- kindness
- communication skills
- compassion
- empathy
- inclusivity
- compromise
- sharing space, equipment, and friends
- an ability to express feelings, while considering other people’s feelings
- an ability to understand when you need to self calm and practice those skills
- problem-solving skills
- ability to follow safety rules and game rules
Of course, the list could go on.
The Peaceful Playgrounds Program is another program that I really like. Basic messages are framed in a way for kids to easily remember and apply on the playground. It also includes a plethora of ideas of things to keep kids active and problem-solving on the playground. Problem-solving strategies that you probably remember from your own childhood.
- Talk
- Walk
- Rock, Papers, Scissors ( Yes, you commit on 3 – agreed upon rule! ) In several of my other schools, this was known as Ching, Chang, Push, apparently a well-established strategy in China too!
From the Enquire 2 Empower Blog
